The Quiet Corner
503 THE QUIET CORNER I counsel thee, shut not thy heart nor thy library.—C. Lamb. "Now you've started me," complained Dr. Angelicus to Euphemia, as he viewed the open magazine before...
...Er—what is the address...
...And a great many men,'" resumed the Doctor, " 'still dance in the style of 1914.' " "The style of 1814, rather," said Euphemia...
...I'm beginning to suspect that you own real estate there," said the Doctor...
...They simply wander and drift about the floor...
...Nevertheless," argued the Doctor, "why go to Meeteetse for dancing lessons when the advertisement I have been reading to you says that the best instruction possible can be obtained here in New York...
...That 'last Friday night, an event took place that will always be alluded to as a mighty swell and grotesque affair...
...Euphemia peered over his shoulder to view a full-page announcement headed in large type: "What Women Have Told Me About Their Dancing Partners...
...Angelicus looked up from the magazine excitedly...
...Then," continued Euphemia, "here is an account of another dance which says that 'our school faculty and pupils are loud in their praise to those who made their carnival dance a success...
...She will...
...Raining confetti, waving multi-colored streamers of paper, and a large cauldron of domesticated punch added color, gayety, and spice to the occasion...
...Well, what have women told 'him' about their dancing partners...
...Why don't you come too...
...Perched upon a loft snugly fitted in one corner of the room, musicians of title spread their notes for eager feet...
...It's the animated shins that make you consider Meeteetse superior in its dancing...
...For instance, I have found audible sobs very successful toward curtailing a marathon on my toes...
...A man should be familiar with them all...
...Why should I go to Meeteetse for dancing...
...Many of the costumes were catchy and original, representing this, that, and the other thing.'" "I can well believe it," remarked the Doctor...
...And then," resumed Euphemia, "here is an item which states: 'Do no forget the Junior Prom dance in the schoolhouse Friday night...
...inquired Euphemia, falteringly...
...inquired Euphemia...
...The Librarian...
...Another festival of feet gliding and shin activity is billed to take place in our school auditorium...
...I must learn them all...
...There will be special features and, oh...
...The last done with a pointed toe, I suppose," said the Doctor...
...I'm going to take that course," he exclaimed...
...Those who were responsible for this razzling dazzling time are chuckling to themselves with glee superlatively sublime.'" "I should have enjoyed that party," admitted Angelicus...
...They are, naturally, the silver fox trot, the red fox trot, the grey fox trot, and the pointed fox trot...
...They do these over and over again until it becomes maddeningly monotonous to dance with them.' " "True," remarked Euphemia, as Dr...
...give it to me...
...Naturally she is too polite to betray her feelings—" "Not at all," interrupted Euphemia...
...Your dancing school doesn't interest me.1 "The advertisement says," remarked Angelicus, again glancing at his magazine, "that 'his method of having five men teachers for each woman, to give her a variety of leads, has also proven extremely popular in this dancing school...
...I can promise you that in a remarkably short time you will be able to do all the new steps.'" Dr...
...What have I started you doing...
...This dancing master advertises that 'there are four different styles of doing the fox trot...
...fI wonder," ruminated Angelicus, "what the four different styles of fox trot are...
...I may as well give up my solicitude for your intellectual welfare...
...Now, if you would only spend your time on the classics—" "But this is a classic," protested Angelicus...
...It's not any ordinary dancer who possesses a supple shin...
...Which states...
...inquired the Doctor...
...Many were deluged with the tiny circles of colored paper...
...Angelicus aloud, " 'and a great many are, he needn't natter himself that his partner won't notice it...
...Angelicus continued: " 'Then, again, a lot of men can't lead forcefully...
...inquired the Doctor...
...I don't need to," sniffed Euphemia...
...Slap bang, they would hit one in the face and on the head...
...If a man is a poor dancer,'" read Dr...
...Here...
...It would be just a waste of time...
...Reading magazine advertisements," explained Angelicus...
...You have always startled me," explained the Doctor, "but just now, you hare started me...
...But if you are so interested in dancing, Doctor, you should really go to Meeteetse, Wyoming...
...Some day, perhaps...
...That was discreet of the women," remarked Euphemia...
...Remember that too much learning is a dangerous thing...
...I'll do no such thing," declared the Doctor...
...But listen to this," said Euphemia...
...What would you do with those four different styles of fox trot, if you had them...
...Saturday, March 12, is the date for congregating, and to animated feet, toes, and shins, Cunningham's orchestra's sweet refrains will outpour.' " "Now I can see what you mean," exclaimed the Doctor...
...Now, Doctor, don't be foolish," said Euphemia...
...Hum—I thought your feminine curiosity would over-balance your solicitude," commented the Doctor...
...It's getting impossible to supervise your reading," mimicked Euphemia...
...Betraying one's feelings is the only means of protection...
...Oh, Doctor," she exclaimed, "you shouldn't read that...
...It was the masquerade ball which the local lodge of Odd Fellows engineered...
...Why not...
...Started, or startled ?" queried Euphemia...
...Angelicus to Euphemia, as he viewed the open magazine before him...
...Cunningham's music-makers of Powell will make the time for those who dance and the wall-flowers whose backs hug the wall like a building covered with ivy so slender and tall.' " "Oh, they do have wall-flowers in Meeteetse then," remarked the Doctor, "so it can't be such a Utopia as you paint it...
...Not at all, for I know you have already read the worst," said Euphemia, "so my solicitude for your intellectual welfare prompts me to inquire what that worst is...
...For one thing,1" went on Angelicus, from the depths of his magazine, " 'many men only know a few steps...
...Yes, Euphemia, from now on I shall spend an afternoon a week in dancing school...
...The answer lies," said Euphemia, as she selected a newspaper from her desk, "in the latest Meeteetse News...
...But truth compels me to admit that what women have told 'him' about their dancing partners, refers entirely to their dancing...
...there will be plenty of sandwiches, cake, and coffee, and crispy crisp pie...
...I dislike," said the Doctor, "to disappoint you...
...Use your zoological intelligence," said Euphemia...
...They are timid.'" "Poor dears," murmured Euphemia...
...Of course," said Euphemia...
...You talk as though you were a Ford, or a Victrola," said Euphemia...
...The 504 crowd that did the note-tossing and note-juggling was the Harmony Four...
...You're too young...
Vol. 5 • March 1927 • No. 18
